Heat Mailbag: Any hope for Justise Winslow’s jumper? Will Hassan Whiteside get some respect?

Miami’s Justise Winslow defends against Brooklyn’s Trevor Booker during the Nets preseason victory over the Heat on Thursday in Brooklyn. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

Justise Winslow remains one of the most dissected players on the Miami Heat and that likely will not change anytime soon. And most of that focus is on Winslow’s outside shot, one that has been spotty since his arrival.

Now, Heat fans are anxious to see how that shot is coming along. We answer that and more in our latest mailbag. If you weren’t able to ask a question, send them in for future mailbags via Twitter to @Anthony_Chiang and @tomdangelo44.

From @PurpleBuckets: How’s Winslow’s jumper look at training camp?

One thing is for sure, Winslow has been working hard on his jumper. He talked about all the extra work he put in during the summer and that has continued early in the preseason. We are not allowed into practice until the very end but without fail, Winslow is one of the last players off the court, hoisting jumper after jumper.

Winslow’s shot, though, remains a work in progress. As far as how it’s looked in practice, that tough for us to determine. In two preseason games, though, he’s made 5-of-13 shots, most of those at the rim. I’m still not sure Winslow ever will become known for his outside shot, but he needs to get to where opponents at least respect that jumper and that means improving on his career 40 percent shooting, and certainly on the unacceptable 34.5 percent he shot in limited time last season.

The Heat remain high on Winslow. He’s a versatile, well-rounded player who now is showing his value by playing more of a point power forward. Those skills have been on display in the first two preseason games. Playing with the second team, which I believe is a better spot for him, he’s shown his ball handling and passing skills and ability to get to the rim.

Winslow has acknowledged his shortcoming with the outside shot and has confidence he will improve.

Only time will tell.

From Olivia in Orlando: Why doesn’t Whiteside get any respect around the league.

Did Hassan put you up to this because that is one of his biggest beefs? Whiteside will say it doesn’t bother him any longer; that he’s become numb to being doubted. But deep down he must wonder what he has to do to receive some respect around the league.

The league’s GMs were asked to name the best center on the league and eight different players received at least one vote, none went to Whiteside. The biggest insult was Golden State’s Draymond Green, a power forward, received a vote.

Coach Erik Spoelstra certainly did not agree, saying “that’s ridiculous, I don’t care what anybody else says. Hassan is one of the best centers in this league. Fact. Period.” Spo had the best explanation, saying the Heat got off to such a poor start last season that nobody was watching. And when Miami turned it around and people started noticing is was too late.

The best way to remedy that and for Whiteside to receive more recognition: Win more games and more people will notice.